Biographie de Baba Sissoko


Born in Bamako (Mali), Baba Sissoko is the undisputed master of tamani (the original talking drum), that he started to play since he was a child (thanks to the teaching of his grand-father Djeli Baba Sissoko) and from which he is able to extract all the notes simply with a one, natural movement.
Baba Sissoko plays also ngoni, kamalengoni, guitar, balaphon, calebasse, sildrum and? he sings!
He is from a great and ancient dynasty of griots from Mali: in the Malian tradition, griots are deputed to calm down hearts and souls, by means of music. Baba Sissoko has been the first one to introduce the sound of tamani in the modern music of Mali.
In the Baba compositions there is a great influence of Amadran, that is a repetitive and hypnotic musical structure typical from Mali by which, according to many researchers, blues was born.
His style is peculiar: Baba loves to integrate melodies and rhythms of the Malian tradition (Bambara, Peul, Mandig e Sonrai) with the typical sounds of jazz and blues, creating fantastic musical effects.
This also thanks to the numerous experiences with other musicians belonging to cultures and roots completely different from his background.
His ability to play a wide range of musical instruments and his extreme sensitivity to other musical genders and expressions, brought him to cooperate with many fine musicians. Among others, he worked and cooperated with:
Habib Koite, Rokia Traore, Ibrahim Ferrer, Buena Vista Social Club, Don Moye and Art Ensemble of Chicago, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Miguel Anga Diaz, Omar Sosa, Chris Joris, Bob Stuwart, Aka Moon.
In the 2007 he come out with its 8th new album ?Bamako Jazz?.
In the 2007 he is also working with Omar Sosa in his project Afreecanos Quintet, together with Marque Gilmore (drums) Childo Tomas (electric bass), Mola Sylla (vocals).
In the 2009 he come out with its 9th album "Culture Griot" with a belgian jazz trio "Aka Moon" and his percussions band "Black Machine".
In the 2010 he come out with its 10th new album ?The Eyes Over the World? together with the Italian folk band ?Il Pozzo di San Patrizio?.
At present, Baba is in tour with Eyes Over the World project, The Malian Tamani Revolution, Aka Moon and Black Machine, being busy also promoting his albums ?Culture Griot?, ?Djekafo? and ?The Eyes Over the World?.
He is also working with ?Afrocubism? the World Circuit new project, together with Cuban and Malian Stars like Bassekou Kouyate, Toumani Diabate, Eliade Ochoa, Kasse Mady Diabate, Djelimady Tounghara and many others.

Baba Sissoko & Taman Kan, ?Taman Kan?,1995
Baba Sissoko, ?Djana?, 1999
Baba Sissoko & Taman Kan, ?Live in Studio?, 2000
Baba Sissoko, ?Djeliya?, 2004
Baba Sissoko, with Famondou Don Moye & Maurizio Capone, ?Folk Bass Spirit Suite?, 2004
Baba Sissoko Trio, ?Bolokan?, 2005
Baba Sissoko, ?Djekafo?, 2006
Baba Sissoko with Eloi Boudimont (Fanfare et Couer), ?Mali Mali?, 2007
Baba Sissoko Jazz Ensemble, ?Bamako Jazz?, 2007
Baba Sissoko Aka Moon & Black Machine, "Culture Griot", 2009
Baba Sissoko & Il Pozzo di San Patrizio, "The Eyes Over the World", 2010